COSTUMES 


AMERICA 


No.  164  CHESNUT  STREET. 

1852.  ♦ 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
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COSTUMES 


OF 


AMERICA. 


C.  G.  HENDERSON  & CO., 

No.  164  CHESTNUT  STREET,  PHILADELHIA. 

1852. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1852, 
BY  C.  G.  HENDERSON  & CO., 
in  the  Clerk^s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States, 
in  and  for'the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE. 


Our  young  people  may  be  supposed  to  be  compara- 
tively ignorant  of  the  great  variety  of  nations  and 
tribes,  who  inhabit  this  our  American  continent.  In 
their  minds,  Indians,  colored  people,  and  white  people, 
make  up  the  three  great  classes ; their  ideas  of  the 
subordinate  varieties  are  rather  vague  and  confused. 


(v) 


VI 


P REF  ACE, 


We  have  endeavored  in  this  little  volume,  by  deli- 
neating many  different  varieties  of  people,  and  giving 
little  sketches  of  their  history,  to  give  a more  definite 
form  to  juvenile  ideas  on  this  subject.  Our  chief  ob- 
ject is  to  excite  an  interest  in  the  subject,  and  raise 
a curiosity,  which  may  be  gratified  in  after  life,  by 
the  perusal  of  more  elaborate  works  on  ethnography. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  INMANS, 


COSTllES  OF  AMERICA 


NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIAN. 

Of  the  many  tribes  of  Indians  who 
once  possessed  all  North  America,  but 
few  now  remain.  This  remnant,  how- 
ever, is  still  divided  into  many  tribes, 
who  differ  greatly  in  figure  and  costume. 

Their  dress  in  their  wild  state,  when 
unacquainted  with  the  white  people, 
consists  of  the  skins  of  animals,  killed  in 
the  chace,  such  as  the  deer,  the  bear,  the 
moose,  the  bison,  the  fox,  and  the  squir- 

(7) 


8 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


rel.  These  they  ornament  very  prettily 
with  porcupine’s  feathers,  and  such  bright 
colored  dyes  as  they  can  obtain  from 
wild  vegetables.  Some  of  their  robes  are 
ingeniously  embroidered  with  the  briliant 
feathers  of  wild  birds. 

When  they  become  acquainted  with 
the  •white  traders,  they  exchange  their 
furs  for  blankets  and  broad  cloth ; and 
lay  aside  the  bow  and  arrow  to  learn  the 
use  of  the  rifle.  There  are  in  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  many  tribes 
of  Indians,  who  remain  in  their  original 
wild  state,  having  scarcely  any  know- 
ledge of  the  whites,  and  still  using  bows, 
arrows,  and  spears  in  the  chase  and  in 
war.  The  figures  represent  a group  of 
Indians,  of  the  Fox  and  Sac  tribes,  in 
their  native  costumes. 


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NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIAN  SQUAW. 


NOETH  AMEKICAN  INDIAN  SQUAW. 


The  Indian  woman  is  called  a squaw ; 
the  Indian  child  a papoose.  The  women 
perform  the  labors  of  the  field,  planting 
corn  and  beans,  and  whatever  they  cul- 
tivate. They  also  have  all  the  domestic 
care  of  the  rude  cabins  in  which  they 
live,  the  Indian  man  performing  the  oc- 
cupations of  hunting  and  war. 

While  at  work,  the  woman  carries  her 
infant  in  a small  wooden  cradle  lashed 
on  her  back.  Her  lot  is  hard  as  is  the 
case  among  all  savage  nations.  Our 
North  American  Indians  have  been  much 
censured  for  their  treatment  of  women. 

(11) 


12 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


But  Mr.  Catlin,  who  has  lived  much 
among  them,  thinks  that  no  more  labor 
is  put  upon  them  than  is  absolutely  ne- 
cessary, considering  the  poverty  and  des- 
titution of  the  Indians.  In  their  wild 
state  all  must  work  in  order  to  live. 

The  women  wear  blankets,  tunics, 
drawers,  moccasins,  made  of  dressed  or 
undressed  skins  of  the  deer  and  other 
animals,  and  some  of  their  garments  are 
very  beautifully  wrought  with  embroidery 
of  porcupine  quills,  richly  colored. 


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MEXICANS. 


MEXICANS. 


The  people  who  live  in  Mexico  are  di- 
vided into  four  classes ; native  Spaniards, 
persons  of  Spanish  descent  born  in  Mex- 
ico, mixed  castes,  and  Indians. 

The  Mexicans  of  the  higher  classes  are 
rich  in  lands  and  money,  and  live  in 
great  splendor.  They  are  fond  of  danc 
ing  and  gambling.  Some  of  them  have 
incomes,  from  their  estates  and  mines  of 
silver  or  gold,  amounting  to  half  a million 
a year.  These  people  dress  very  richly 
and  gaudily,  displaying  more  embroidery 
and  brighter  colors  in  their  clothes  than 
Europeans. 


(15) 


16 


COSTUMES  OP  AMERICA. 


The  lower  elasses  imitate  this  splendor 
of  dress  as  far  as  they  can.  But  the 
lowest  class,  farm  laborers  and  miners, 
called  peons,  dress  very  meanly,  their 
condition  being  about  the  same  as  that 
of  slaves. 


MEXICAN  INDIANS,  GOING  TO  MAKKET. 


MEXICAN  INDIANS, 

(going  to  maeket.) 

The  Indians  of  Mexico  are  the  descend- 
ants of  the  original  possessors  of  the 
country.  They  resemble  our  Indians  in 
feature  and  form.  They  are  far  more 
numerous  than  the  whites ; but  are  held 
in  subjection,  and  compelled  to  live  in 
villages  by  themselves,  where  they  are 
governed  by  their  native  chiefs,  descend- 
ants of  the  ancient  Aztec  nobles.  They 
pay  a tax  to  the  government.  Some  of 
them  are  rich.  They  live  by  agriculture, 
and  some  of  them  excel  in  manufactures, 

(19) 


20 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


especially  that  of  ornaments  and  toys. 
They  are  very  fond  of  flowers,  and  love 
to  employ  themselves  in  painting  and 
carving,  imitating  skilfully  any  models 
which  are  furnished  for  them. 

In  their  manners  these  Indians  are 
grave  and  gloomy.  They  are  silent  and 
affect  an  air  of  mystery.  They  are  ex- 
tremely ignorant  and  their  present  want 
of  instruction  is  attributed  to  the  ex- 
tinction of  the  Aztec  priesthood,  their 
ancient  instructors,  for  which  nothing 
has  been  substituted  by  the  Spanish 
priests,  in  the  way  of  general  education. 

The  figures  represent  an  Indian  farmer 
and  his  wife  going  to  market. 


MEXICAN  INDIANS,  KETURNING  FROM  MARKET.  - 


MEXICAN  INDIANS, 
(returning  from  market.) 

The  market  place  in  the  City  of  Mex- 
ico is  thronged  with  Indians,  who  there 
expose  the  products  of  their  industry  for 
sale.  Many  bring  their  commodities  on 
their  backs.  Others  in  canoes  by  the 
canal,  which  leads  to  the  lake  of  Chaleo. 
Fine  vegetables,  tropical  fruits,  fowls, 
turkeys,  ducks,  wild  birds  alive,  corn, 
milk,  butter,  young  kids,  pigeons,  hares, 
rabbits,  fish,  tortoises,  frogs  and  lizards, 
beef,  mutton,  and  pork,  form  the  cargoes 
of  the  hundreds  of  boats  which  pass 

(23) 


2i  COSTUMES  OP  AMERICA. 

throiigli  the  canal  to  market  every 
morning. 

Besides  provisions,  the  Indians  dispose 
of  wool,  cotton,  coarse  cotton  cloth,  ma- 
nufactured skins,  and  it  is  an  amusing 
scene  to  witness  them  collected  in  large 
parties  with  their  children  seated  on  the 
ground  enjoying  their  frugal  meals.  Like 
other  Indians,  however,  they  are  addicted 
to  drinking  and  gambling,  and  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  market  is  infested  with 
shops  where  spirits  are  sold ; and  it  often 
happens  that  the  husband,  after  getting 
drunk  and  losing  his  money,  vents  his 
ill  humor  by  beating  his  wife. 


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IIAYTIANS, 


HAYTIANS. 


Hayti,  or  St.  Domingo,  is  one  of  the 
largest  of  the  West  India  island.  It  was 
discovered  by  Columbus,  colonized  by  the 
Spaniards,  and  afterwards  by  the  French ; 
but  in  1791  the  French  Convention  de- 
clared the  slaves  of  the  colonies  free, 
and  they  destroyed  or  expelled  their 
masters,  and  French  St.  Domingo  became 
an  independent  negro  republic,  which 
soon  changed  to  a military  despotism. 
The  sovereign  Solouque  is  now  called 
emperor. 

The  country  is  in  a wretched  state.  Its 
commerce  and  industry  are  dwindled  to 

(27) 


28 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


almost  nothing.  The  people  are  poor 
and  indolent,  although  they  possess  one 
of  the  most  fertile  and  delightful  islands 
in  the  whole  world.  It  is  true  that  des- 
potism affords  little  encouragement  to 
industry;  because  the  government  can 
seize  the  property  of  the  subject  at  plea- 
sure ; but  it  is  the  natural  indolence  of 
the  negro  which  makes  him  neglect  labor 
and  submit  to  a wicked  and  bad  govern- 
ment. Our  picture  represents  a soldier 
of  the  emperor  and  his  family. 


V 


CHILIANS. 


Chili,  like  Peru,  was  brought  under 
the  Spanish  yoke,  in  Pizarro’s  time,  al- 
though a portion  of  the  country  has  al- 
ways remained  independent,  under  its 
original  possessors,  the  Indians. 

The  Chilians  of  the  higher  classes  are 
courteous,  polite,  kind  hearted,  ignorant, 
fond  of  diversion,  superstitious,  and  ad- 
dicted to  quarreling  among  themselves. 
A fondness  for  ardent  spirits  is  the  chief 
cause  of  this  last  trait.  The  ladies 
often  can  neither  read  nor  write ; but 
Mrs.  Graham  and  Captain  Hall,  who 
visited  the  country,  both  unite  in  prais- 

(31) 


32 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


ing  their  natural  talents  and  the  un- 
studied grace  of  their  manners. 

Our  engraving,  which  represents  the 
costume  of  the  higher  class,  exhibits  the 
fondness  for  a showy  style  of  dress. 

The  situation  of  Chili,  on  a narrow 
strip  of  land,  between  the  Andes  and  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  makes  it  liable  to  frequent 
earthquakes,  and  in  the  cities,  on  this 
account  they  are  fond  of  living  in  houses 
of  only  one  story.  These  are  built  of 
stone  or  brick  in  the  old  Moorish  style, 
with  a court-yard  in  the  centre.  The 
walls  are  solid  and  thick,  the  apartments 
are  spacious,  well  furnished,  and  often 
richly  gilded. 


PEONS, 


CHILIANS. 

(peons.) 

In  Chili,  as  in  the  other  parts  of  Ame- 
rica settled  by  the  Spaniards,  the  labor- 
ing classes  are  called  peons.  They  are 
chiefly  of  the  Indian  or  the  mixed  races, 
and  perform  the  duties  of  peon  laborers, 
porters,  mechanics,  and  couriers,  or 
bearers  [Tamenes.)  These  in  the  picture 
are  couriers,  crossing  the  Andes.  One 
of  them,  you  observe,  has  in  his  hand  a 
cord  to  which  three  balls  are  attached. 
This  is  a weapon  called  the  holas,  used 
all  over  South  America.  When  a peon 

(35) 


36 


COSTUMES  OP  AMERICA. 


wishes  to  use  it,  he  holds  one  ball  in  his 
hand  and  swings  the  others  with  a rapid 
motion  over  his  head  till  it  has  acquired 
considerable  momentum,  when  he  dis- 
charges it  with  great  precision  at  the 
object.  In  this  way  he  hits  the  legs  of 
the  llama,  or  vicugna,  or  even  the  horse 
of  an  enemy.  The  balls  wind  round  the 
legs  of  the  animal  and  cause  him  to  fall ; 
and  before  he  can  extricate  himself,  the 
peon  is  upon  him  with  his  sword  or  spear. 

The  dwellings  of  the  peons  are  rude 
tents,  the  walls  being  of  stakes  crossing 
each  other,  and  fastened  with  thongs  or 
hemp  twine ; the  roof  of  branches  plas- 
tered with  mud  and  covered  with  palm 
leaves.  These  are  called  ranchos. 


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COLUMBIANS, 


COLUMBIANS. 


In  the  northern  part  of  South  America, 
is  the  country  called  Columbia,  once  a 
province  of  Spain,  and  now  independent. 
Like  Mexico,  its  population  is  mixed, 
the  larger  proportion  being  Indians,  who 
are  laborers  and  hunters,  while  the  Spa- 
niards and  Creoles  are  planters  and 
traders. 

Our  picture  shows  them  to  advantage. 
Here  in  the  foreground  you  see  the 
planter  in  a light  Spanish  dress,  suited 
to  the  climate,  with  his  broad  brimmed 
straw  hat,  smoking  his  pipe  and  taking 
his  ease.  To  his  right  hand  is  his  wife, 

(39) 


40 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


who  has  adopted  a mixture  of  the  ele- 
gant costume  of  Andalusia  and  that  of 
an  English  lady.  She  has  her  embroid- 
ered dress  and  ample  shawl,  and  the 
coquettish  straw  hat  and  ribbands.  In 
the  distance,  the  condition  of  the  In- 
dians is  happily  illustrated  by  the  figure 
of  one  of  those  porters  employed  in  carry- 
ing travellers  over  the  mountains  on  their 
backs.  They  are  called  tamenes.  These 
Indians  wear  little  clothing  of  any  kind. 


PEKUVIANS, 


PEEUYIANS. 


The  Peruvians,  Creole  deseendants  of 
the  Spaniards,  are  a very  insignificant 
race  of  men,  destitute  of  all  energy  both 
bodily  and  mental.  Their  agriculture  is 
conducted  by  Indians,  and  their  com- 
merce, which  is  extensive,  is  in  the  hands 
of  foreigners.  The  ladies  act  a much 
more  conspicuous  part.  They  are  fond 
of  admiration,  and  far  from  discreet  in 
their  behaviour.  Their  dress  consists  of 
the  saga,  a light  elastic  gown  fitted  close 
to  the  frame,  and  the  manto,  a large  loose 
cloak  of  black  silk  gauze,  which  is 
wrapped  round  even  the  face.  Under 

(43) 


44 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


this  disguise  they  sally  forth  and  amuse 
themselves  by  addressing  their  friends 
without  being  known  by  them,  mixing 
with  the  crowd  to  view  whatever  exhibi- 
tion is  going  forward,  and  many  other 
indiscretions. 

Gaming  prevails  among  both  sexes  to 
a destructive  extent;  and  families  are 
very  ill  managed.  Yet  the  Peruvians  in 
the  cities  are  very  courteous,  humane, 
hospitable,  and  generous.  In  the  coun- 
try these  amiable  qualities  are  united 
with  equal  mirth  and  much  greater 
simplicity. 


PERUVIAN  INDIANS, 


PERUVIAN  INDIANS. 

The  Indians,  or  native  Peruvians,  are 
still  over  all  Peru,  the  most  numerous 
class.  They  have  always  been  a mild, 
harmless  race  since  the  days  of  Pizarro. 
They  have  small  features,  little  feet,  well 
turned  limbs,  sleek,  coarse,  black  hair, 
and  scarcely  any  beard.  They  live  in 
miserable  huts,  but  they  neglect  no  means 
of  improving  their  condition.  They  are 
good  farmers,  and  make  many  curious 
fabrics  with  slight  materials.  Some  of 
them  have  made  good  preachers  and  law- 
yers. Their  women  are  virtuous  and  dis- 
creet; and  in  the  war  of  independence, 

(47) 


48 


COSTUMES  OP  AMERICA. 


some  of  the  men  showed  great  courage. 
They  retain  the  deepest  and  most  won- 
derful recollection  of  the  Great  Inca,  and 
in  all  the  remote  districts  annually  cele- 
brate his  death,  by  a sort  of  rude  trage- 
dy, accompanied  by  the  most  melting 
strains  of  music. 

Our  engraving  represents  Indian  wo- 
men of  the  higher  class  in  their  holiday 
dresses. 


BRAZILIANS, 


BKAZILIANS. 


Of  the  three  millions  of  inhabitants  in 
the  empire  of  Brazil,  one  half  are  negroes, 
bond  and  free,  one  fourth  whites,  and  one 
fourth  mulattoes.  The  slaves  on  obtain- 
ing their  freedom  are  admitted  to  equal 
rights  with  the  whites.  Many  of  them 
are  officers  in  the  army  and  members  of 
the  legislature ; and  others  are  scattered 
through  all  classes  of  society. 

Of  the  Brazilian  character  report  does 
not  speak  very  favorably.  The  emigrants 
consist,  in  a great  measure,  of  adven- 
turers, often  of  inferior  rank,  who  have 
gone  out  with  the  view  of  amassing  a 

fortune  in  any  shape,  and  pursue  a traffic 

(51) 


52 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


partaking  more  of  peddling  and  retail 
habits  than  of  any  liberal  principles  of 
trade.  Many  of  the  free  negroes  and 
mulattoes  seem  to  have  a good  deal  of 
the  scoundrel  about  them.  The  ladies 
have  less  liberty  than  in  Europe,  and  do 
not  make  the  very  best  use  of  what  they 
have.  The  charges  against  them  seem 
often  too  sweeping ; but  from  the  con- 
current testimony  of  travellers,  they  rank 
lower  than  those  of  Europe,  and  have  not 
the  same  graces,  either  of  attire  or  man- 
ners. Mrs.  Graham,  however,  observed  a 
warmth  of  domestic  affection  which  she 
never  saw  equalled,  unless  in  some  of  the 
Highland  clans,  which  showed  itself  ra- 
ther unluckily  by  marriages  within  the 
forbidden  degrees. 


BEAZILIAN  INDIANS. 


BRAZILIAN  INDIANS. 


The  Indians  in  Brazil  are  in  a mucli 
more  uncivilized  and  uncompromising 
state  than  in  the  Spanish  settlements. 
They  have  never  been  incorporated  in 
any  shape  with  the  European  population, 
but  have  always  retired  before  the  pro- 
gress of  civilization  into  the  depths  of 
their  forests.  They  have  borrowed,  in- 
deed, from  the  Portuguese  some  scanty 
portion  of  raiment.  But  they  have  never 
attempted  the  taming  of  animals,  or  the 
planting  of  grain ; they  subsist  solely  on 
the  spontaneous  fruits  of  the  earth,  the 
roots  which  they  can  dig  up,  and  the 

(55) 


56 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


game  brought  down  by  the  arrow,  which 
they  shoot  with  marvellous  dexterity, 
taking  an  almost  unerring  aim  at  the 
distance  of  forty  or  fifty  yards. 

To  render  their  arrows  more  fatal,  they 
steep  their  points  in  a vegetable  poison, 
prepared  by  themselves,  called  wourali, 
which  is  very  active,  causing  almost  in- 
stant death.  The  Indian  in  the  picture 
uses  a very  long  bow,  and  discharges  the 
arrow  by  lying  on  his  back  and  bending 
the  bow  with  his  feet,  a practice  peculiar 
to  the  Indians  of  Brazil. 


TUPINAMBAS, 


TUPINAMBAS. 


The  Tupinambas  are  the  most  power- 
ful tribe  of  independent  Indians  in  Brazil. 

They  live  on  the  borders  of  the  river  Ja- 

♦ 

guaride,  the  country  of  Ilheos,  and  even 
extended  to  the  neighborhood  of  Bio  Ja- 
neiro, in  early  times.  They  are  a strong 
active  race.  They  paint  their  bodies 
with  red,  black,  and  blue  colors,  wear 
mantles  and  coronets  of  feathers,  and  a 
singular  circular  ornament  of  feathers  on 
the  back. 

Like  the  Botocoudos,  they  pierce  the 
lower  lip  and  insert  in  it  an  ornament  of 
bone.  They  also  pierce  holes  in  their 

(59) 


60 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


cheeks.  Their  arms  are  the  bow  and 
arrows,  a heavy  war-club,  the  spear  and 
the  tomahawk. 

They  are  brave  and  cruel  in  war,  and 
not  only  sacrifice  prisoners  but  eat  them. 
They  worship  many  gods  and  believe  in 
the  immortality  of  the  soul.  Their  chiefs 
are  invested  with  powers  similar  to  those 
of  the  North  American  Indians,  and  they 
have  many  very  curious  and  barbarous 
customs  peculiar  to  themselves. 


BOTOCOUDOS 


BOTOCOUDOS. 


This  is  one  of  the  wildest  and  most 
barbarous  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  Brazil. 
They  habitually  go  about  almost  entirely 
naked,  sometimes  entirely.  They  paint 
their  bodies,  live  in  huts  made  of  palm 
leaves,  sleep  in  grass  hammocks,  and 
subsist  on  wild  fruits  and  the  produce  of 
their  rude  hunting.  A more  miserable 
and  degraded  race  of  men  scarcely  exists 
in  the  world. 

Mr.  Murray  thus  describes  their  mode 
of  disfiguring  their  faces.  The  Botocoudos, 
who  inhabit  the  back  settlements  of 
Porto  Seguro,  have  a favorite  mode  of 

(63) 


64 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


ornamenting  themselves  by  what  is  called 
the  hotoqiie.  This  consists  of  large  pieces 
of  wood  pendent  from  the  ears  and  the 
under  lips,  to  which  they  are  fastened  by 
holes  bored  for  that  purpose.  The  result 
is,  that  the  ears  are  stretched  till  they 
hang  down,  like  wings,  sometimes  to  the 
shoulder;  wbi’e  the  lip  is  made  to  pro- 
ject, and  half  the  lower  teeth  is  protruded 
in  the  processes  of  eating  and  speaking. 
They  sometimes  also  paint  themselves 
frightfully,  the  body  black  and  the  face 
red,  probable  to  strike  terror  into  their 
enemies.  The  Furies,  Fataches,  Macha- 
caries,  with  sundry  other  tribes,  of  name 
and  aspect  equally  uncouth,  have  the 
same  general  character,  with  sundry  fan- 
tastic peculiarities  belonging  to  each. 


COROADOS. 


This  was  an  important  tribe  of  Brazi- 
lian Indians  in  former  times,  who  have 
now  dwindled  away  to  a mere  handful. 
They  were  very  courageous,  not  attack- 
ing their  enemies  by  ambuscades,  like 
many  other  tribes,  but  meeting  them  in 
the  open  field,  and  fighting  with  indo- 
mitable courage.  They  bravely  resisted 
the  Portuguse  invaders  till  the  year  1630, 
when  they  were  beaten  in  a grand  pitched 
battle,  and  driven  from  the  plains  of  Ouc- 
takazes,  their  own  fertile  country,  to  the 
forests  of  Minas,  where  they  encountered 
the  tribe  of  Coropos  and  subdued  them. 

(67) 


68 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


But  when  they  had  lost  the  hope  of  re- 
turning to  their  own  beautiful  fields,  and 
were  compelled  to  live  in  thick  forests, 
they  cut  off  the  long  hair  which  had  for- 
merly distinguished  them  from  other 
tribes,  and  although  they  carefully  pre- 
served their  ancient  name  of  Ouctakazes 
among  themselves,  they  received  from 
the  Portuguese  that  of  Coroados,  or 
crowned  Indians,  in  allusion  to  the  new 
style  of  dressing  their  hair. 


f 


GUAOHOS, 


GUACnOS. 


The  Guachos,  who  inhabit  the  wide 
surface  of  the  Pampas,  in  La  Plata,  and 
appropriate  the  numberless  herds  that 
roam  over  them,  are  a very  singular  raee. 
Some  travellers  hold  them  as  downright 
savages ; but  Captain  Head  assures  us, 
that  they  are  often  of  good  birth,  and 
very  estimable  persons.  The  Guacho  is 
at  once  the  most  active  and  the  most  in- 
dolent of  mortals.  He  will  scour  the 
country  whole  days  at  full  gallop,  break- 
ing wild  horses,  or  chasing  the  jaguar  or 
the  ostrich ; but  once  alighted  and  seated 
on  the  skeleton  of  a horse’s  head,  nothing 
can  induce  him  to  move.  He  considers 


72 


COSTUMES  OP  AMERICA. 


it  a degradation  to  set  his  foot  to  the 
ground ; so  that,  notwithstanding  a ge- 
neral vigor  almost  preternatural,  the 
lower  limbs  are  weak  and  bent,  and  he 
is  incapable  of  walking  to  any  distance. 
His  dwelling  is  a mud  cottage,  with  one 
apartment,  and  so  swarming  with  insects, 
that  in  summer,  all  the  family,  wrapped 
in  skins,  sleep  in  the  open  air.  All 
round  is  a desert,  with  the  exception  of 
the  corral^  or  circular  spot,  enclosed  by 
stakes,  into  which  the  cattle  are  driven. 

Neither  grain  nor  vegetables  are  cul- 
tivated, nor  is  the  cow  made  to  yield  milk. 
A certain  portion  become  robbers ; and 
Captain  Head  does  not  consider  it  safe 
to  meet  a party  without  a display  of 
three  pistols  ready  cocked. 


K 'V'- 


TNDIANS  OF  BUENOS  AYKES. 


INDIANS  OF  BUENOS  AYEES. 


Buenos  Aykes  receives  its  name  {Good 
Airs)  from  its  salubrious  climate.  It  is 
situated  on  the  river  de  la  Plata,  south 
of  Paraguay.  Its  plains,  called  Pampas, 
abound  in  wild  horses  and  cattle,  which 
are  caught  with  the  lasso  and  bolas,  by 
the  wild  people,  called  Guachos.  The 
air  is  said  to  be  so  pure  that  beef  dries 
without  putrifying  and  without  salt ; and 
the  chief  exports  of  the  country  are  hides 
and  dried  beef.  A horse  or  cow  may  be 
bought  for  half  a dollar  in  this  country. 
Fish  and  fruits  are  equally  abundant 
and  cheap. 


(75) 


76 


COSTUMES  OP  AMERICA. 


The  Indians  on  the  borders  of  Buenos 
A}Tes  are  very  fierce,  excellent  horsemen, 
and  skilful  in  the  use  of  their  long  lances. 
They  are  independent,  and  often  make 
inroads  on  the  towns  and  villages  peopled 
by  the  descendants  of  the  original  Spa- 
nish colonists  of  the  country. 

Nevertheless  some  of  these  Indians  of 
the  Pampas  settle  in  the  Spanish  towns, 
and  become  mechanics  or  shopkeepers. 
Our  engraving  represents  an  Indian 
shopkeeper,  with  his  little  stock  of  bri- 
dles, feathers,  salt,  and  woollen  cloth. 


r 


PAKAGUAT  INDIANS, 


PAKAGUAY  INDIANS. 

Pakaguay  is  situated  between  the  Pa- 
rana and  Paraguay  rivers,  on  the  south 
side  of  Brazil.  It  was  settled  by  the 
Spaniards,  and  was  formerly  a province 
of  Buenos  Ayres.  The  most  curious 
thing  about  the  country  is  the  way  in 
which  the  Indians  have  been  brought 
into  complete  subjection,  and  accustomed 
to  regular  pursuits  of  agriculture  and 
manufactures.  This  was  first  effected 
by  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  who  got  pos- 
session of  the  whole  country,  had  forty 
missions,  a seat  of  government,  forts  and 
armies.  They  excluded  all  Europeans 

(79) 


80 


COSTUMES  OF  AMEKICA. 


except  Jesuits,  and  monopolized  the  com- 
merce and  agricultural  products  of  the 
country. 

After  the  Jesuits  were  deprived  of  their 
power,  the  Indians  fell  under  the  domi- 
nion of  the  dictator  Francia,  who  ob- 
served the  same  policy.  Since  his  death 
the  government  is  a military  despotism 
with  republican  forms.  The  Creoles  and 
Indians  who  compose  nearly  the  whole 
population  are  very  quiet,  industrious 
people,  who  have  learnt  the  arts  of  agri- 
culture and  manufactures ; and  yield  a 
ready  obedience  to  the  government.  Their 
peaceful  and  docile  character  is  attributed 
in  a great  measure,  to  the  religious  in- 
struction and  careful  training  of  their 
former  masters,  the  Jesuits. 


URAGUAY  INDIANS. 


UEAGUAT  INDIANS. 


The  Indians  of  Uraguay  live  in  a very 
simple  and  rude  style.  The  most  re- 
markable tribe  is  that  of  Charruas,  a 
tribe  originally  naked  and  utterly  barba- 
rous, like  the  Botocoudos,  but,  unlike 
them,  conquered  and  partially  civilized 
by  the  Spaniards.  In  their  half  civilized 
state  they  prefer  such  employments  as 
suit  their  wild  habits.  They  are  peons, 
shepherds,  herdsmen,  couriers,  catchers 
of  wild  oxen  and  horses  with  the  bolas 
and  lasso,  and  very  often  highway  robbers. 

They  wear  very  little  clothing,  and 
subsist,  like  the  Guachos,  chiefly  on 

(83) 


84 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


beef,  wild  fruits,  and  roots.  Our  engrav- 
ing represents  their  imperfect  kind  of 
cookery,  a very  rude  way  of  roasting 
beef  before  a fire.  They  have  a superior 
way  of  baking  it,  by  wrapping  it  in  a 
piece  of  raw  hide,  and  putting  it  in  an 
impromptu  oven,  a hole  in  the  ground 
filled  with  hot  coals. 

They  are  very  faithful  and  adroit 
guides  for  travellers;  and  perform  the 
hunting  and  cooking  necessary  on  a jour- 
ney through  the  interior.  But  when  the 
Charrua  guide  has  conducted  the  tra- 
veller to  his  journey’s  end,  and  fulfilled 
his  contract,  and  got  his  pay,  he  feels 
quite  at  liberty  to  rob  the  same  traveller 
if  he  should  meet  him  in  a favorable  spot 
afterwards. 


PATAGONIANS. 


PATAGONIANS. 


The  Patagonians  have  been  repre- 
sented by  travellers  as  men  of  gigantic 
stature.  The  truth  appears  to  be  that 
they  have  enormously  large  heads  and 
shoulders,  and  long  bodies,  with  short 
and  small  legs,  so  that  when  mounted 
on  horseback,  they  look  like  giants.  But 
their  ordinary  stature  is  from  five  to  six 
feet. 

They  dress  in  robes  made  of  the  skins 
of  the  guanaco,  the  fox,  and  other  animals. 
These  robes  are  ornamented  with  red 
figures.  Under  the  robe  is  a tunic  also 
made  of  skins.  Their  long  black  hair  is 

(87) 


88 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


often  tied  up  with  a leather  or  woollen 
string. 

They  are  naturally  indolent,  but  fond 
of  hunting.  They  are  great  gluttons, 
and  especially  fond  of  butter,  oil,  and 
fat.  Their  arms  are  the  bow  and  arrow, 
a short  javelin  and  the  bolas. 

The  laborious  occupations  of  the  house- 
hold are  all  performed  by  the  women ; 
the  men  priding  themselves  on  being 
only  hunters  and  warriors. 

Their  houses  are  built  of  stone  and 
wood,  with  a water  proof  roof  of  skins. 
They  are  only  ten  or  twelve  feet  long  and 
six  feet  wide.  The  fire  is  in  the  middle 
of  the  floor.  These  people  are  a distinct 
nation  from  the  Fuegians,  of  whom  we 
are  next  to  give  an  account. 


m 


\ 


ft 


* 


INDIANS  OF  TERRA  DEL  FUEGO. 


INDIANS  OF  TEERA  DEL  FUEGO. 


All  travellers  unite  in  representing 
the  Fuegians  as  the  most  miserable  of 
the  human  species.  They  have  large 
heads,  prominent  cheek  bones,  flat  nose, 
and  a good  natured  expression  of  coun- 
tenance. They  are  of  low  stature,  and 
badly  formed.  They  smear  their  bodies 
with  charcoal,  red  ochre,  and  seal  oil,  a 
practice  which  renders  them  hideous  in 
appearance,  and  very  offensive  to  the 
smell.  They  wear  robes  made  of  the 
skin  of  the  guanaco  or  the  seal,  and  they 
go  nearly  naked,  notwithstanding  the 
severity  of  the  climate. 


(91) 


92 


COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 


Their  dwellings  are  in  the  form  of  a 
sugar  loaf,  and  built  by  driving  stakes 
in  the  ground  and  tying  them  together 
at  the  top.  The  fire  is  built  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  floor,  and  the  place  is  always 
full  of  smoke. 

They  use  skilfully  the  bow  and  arrow 
and  the  sling.  Their  canoes  are  about 
fifteen  feet  long  and  three  feet  wide,  built 
of  small  branches  of  trees  bent  into  a 
curve  and  united  with  the  tendons  of 
animals  and  bands  of  leather.  The  wo- 
men row  these  canoes.  They  live  mostly 
on  fish  and  seals,  and  they  are  strongly 
suspected  of  cannibalism,  and  are  charged 
with  killing  their  old  women  when  pro- 
visions grow  scarce. 


ESQUIMAUX, 


ESQUIMAUX. 


The  Esquimaux  live  in  Greenland,  and 
the  northernmost  parts  of  North  America. 
They  dwell,  during  the  summer,  in  tents 
made  of  seal  skins.  Our  engraving  re- 
presents the  interior  of  one  of  these  tents, 
with  an  Esquimaux  family.  In  winter 
they  construct  tents  of  snow,  which  are 
warm  and  commodious.  They  live  on  fish 
and  the  flesh  of  the  seal,  and  make  their 
garments  of  the  skins  of  the  seal  bears, 
foxes,  and  sable. 

The  Esquimaux  are  enormous  eaters, 
and  they  are  quite  indifferent  as  to  the 
quality  of  their  food.  Some  of  Captain 

(95) 


96  COSTUMES  OF  AMERICA. 

Parry’s  stories  of  their  feats,  in  the  way 
of  devouring  raw  pork  and  swallowing 
train  oil,  are  almost  incredible. 

They  pursue  the  seal  fishery  in  canoes 
of  a simple  construction.  They  are 
sturdy  beggars  and  adroit  thieves,  and 
when  powerful  enough  in  numbers,  they 
frequently  attack  the  boat’s  crews  of 
voyagers,  with  the  purpose  of  robbing 
them.  Frequent  instances  of  this  kind 
occurred  during  the  late  exploring  expe- 
ditions of  Captains  Parry,  Boss,  and 
Franklin. 

The  severity  of  the  climate  in  all  the 
Arctic  regions,  has  an  effect  on  the  sta- 
ture of  the  people.  Their  average  height 
is  said  to  be  only  four  feet  six  inches. 


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